Fork for composing and distributing type



. c. F. GREEN 7 FORK FOR COHPOSING AND DISTRIBUTING TYPE Filed Nov'. 5, 1925 32 v mvsmon ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 19, 1926.

UNITED: STATES PATENT" OFFICE.

CHARLES FREDERICK GREEN, OF ROMFORDFENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO A. B. DICK COM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPO RAIIION OF ILLINOIS.

FORK FOR COMPOSING AND DISTRIBUTING TYPE.

Application filed November To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES FREDERICK GREEN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Roneo Vorks, Hornchurch Road, Romford, Essex, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Forks for Composing and Distributing Type, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an improved fork or stick for'composing and distributing the special form of type used in that class of printing machines in which the type is held in grooves or channels, and which is contained in groovesor channels in a magazine or fount, and has for its object to construct thefork or stick in such a manner that the type is retained in the fork and cannot fall out when the fork is tilted.

The invention. comprises a fork or stick for composing and distributing type having a central groove to receive the type and two prongs at each end, one fixed and the other free to be afforded a slight lateral movement during the stages of composing or distributing.

The free prongs in their normal positions project into the central groove at each end and so prevent type escaping from the fork when it is tilted.

These and other features of the fork or stick will now be described more particu-' larly, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings whereon Fig. 1 shows in plan view a composing and distributing stick constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a side view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows an end view of Fig. 1 with the free prong in its normal position to retain the type in the fork;

Fig. 4: shows a view similar to Fig. 3 but with the free pron turned-away from the fixed prong to permit extraction of type from the fork;

Fig. 5 shows a detail view in plan of one of the free prongs with its spring; and

Fig. 6 shows a fragmentary plan view of a magazine and part of the fork engaged therewith.

Referring to the drawings, the fork 10,

which is formed with the usual central groove 11 and thumb rest 12, has secured 5, 1925. Serial No. 66,903.

into its ends, or formed in one therewith,

the fixed prongs 13.

One side of the fork at each end is formed with a groove 14 (Fig. and in the. grooves are secured by means of pivots 15 members 16 fashioned with prongs 17.

Each member is formed with a tooth or claw 18 (Fig. 5) against which presses the curved end of a spring 19 fitted into the groove 14. Each member 16 is furthermore fashioned with a projection 20 whichnormally, un-

der the action of the spring 19, protrudes into the central groove 11 of the fork and so retains the grooved type 21 in the fork.

Referring toFig. 4:, it will be observed that the grooved type can pass out of the fork as the foremost type is not obstructed positions shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 5, and 1 consequently if type are in the fork and it is tilted or accidentally dropped the type are retained in the fork at each end by means of the projections 20.

-Fig. 6 illustrates the use of the fork with a type magazine 22. The magazine consists of a series of spaced apart channeled strips ofmetal 23, the grooved type 21 being supported in the channels 2 1 formed between adjacent strips.

The fork is presented to the magazine in such a manner that the prongs 13 and 17 engage under adjacent channelled strips. The free prong 17 which is slightly longer than the fixed prong 13 is first engaged under a strip or. channelled bar 23, which engagement forces the free prong away from the fixed prong and permits the fixed prong to engage under the next channelled strip or bar of the magazine, and the position of the fork for initial composing is as shown in Fig. 6, from which it will be seen that the act of engaging the fork aligns the groove 11 with the channel 24:, and the spring 19 causes the prongs to grip the sides of the channelled strips. The fork is held in the right hand with the thumb pressed on the thumb rest 12.

A type letter or other character is slid out of a channel 24- of the magazine into the central groove 11 of the stick or fork by means of tweezers or a similar tool. The fork is then Withdrawn and engaged With another line of type in the magazine and the action repeated until the fork contains a line of matter.

The composed line of type is now transferred to the grooved segment, or type car rier on the machine in a manner similar to that described forextracting the type from the magazine, the complete line of type being pushed out of the fork by tweezers or like means into one of the channels or grooves on the segment or type carrier, the opposite end of the fork being used for this purpose.

in a similar manner, after use, the type extracted a line at a time from the segor type carrier on. the machine, and oh type is distributed back into its proper nnel in the magazine.

From the foregoing description of the construction and operation of the fork or s ck it will e appreciated that disengagement of the fork With the type channels of the magazine, or type carrier of the machine causes the type to be retained in the fork since the prong-17 at the Working end is moved into the path of the central groove 11 in the fork under the action of the spring 19, and consequently risk of dropping type dining the periods between extraction of the type from the magazine, setting up on the machine, Withdrawal therefrom and subsequent distribution, is entirely eliminated.

lVhat I claim is l. A fork or stick for composing and distributing type of the character specified, said stick having a central groove to receive the type and prongs at each end, one of the at each end being pivoted to the in such a manner that a sligl'it lateral movement is permitted to the prong during the stages of composing or distributing.

2. A fork or stick for composing and distributing type of the character described,

having a central type groove and having freely mounted thereon at each end a prong which projects into the central groove of the fork at each end, whereby type is prevented from, falling out of the fork when tilted or accidentally dropped.

A fork or stick for composing and distributing type of the character described, having a central type groove and having freely mounted thereon at each end a prong which projects into the central groove of the fork at ea h end, whereby type is prevented from falling out of the fork when tilted or accidentally dropped, and also having a fixed prong ateach end of the stick.

i. A fork or stick for composingand distributing type of the character described, having a central type groove and having f eely mounted thereon at eachend a prong which projects into the central groove of the fork at each end, whereby type/is prevented from falling out of the fork when tiltedor accidentally dropped, and also having a fixed prong at each end of the stick, said free prongs being somewhat longer than the fixed, prongs so that a free prong may be first engaged in the type channels of the magazine, grooved segment, or type carrier on the machine.

5. A fork or stick for composing and distributing type of the character specified formed with lateral grooves intoWh-ich are fitted members formed with prongs, the said members and prongs being pivotedin the grooves, and a spring fitted in the groove and normally acting upon the members and prongs to prevent escape of type from the stick or fork.

This specification signed this 21st day of October, 1925.

CHARLES FREDERICK GREEN. 

